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Got stopped at a ND DNR checkpoint and that was fine. We were under the limit and I thought we would be in and out.

First off, this is my first "real" Pheasant hunt so we did make some mistakes. Also my first trip to ND and first trip hunting birds more than 20 miles away.

I will make a long story short. First We shot six birds on Sat. and cleaned them. Next shot one Sun am early -- cleaned it and ate some B-fast. Next shot two later in the day and kept them intact to show the kids.

We got our stamp at the post office for Ducks and we were told that was all we needed by the post people. My buddy shot a nice blue wing teal and was going to take that home too.

The DNR guy looked at our papers and said fellas, we have a problem. He explained to us that we had the federal stamp but not the ND state duck stamp. We explained that "mabel" at the post office said that was all we needed and he read us the riot act on it but went on with our other problems. I think they knew we tried to do it the right way. I think they knew Mabel as well.

We cleaned the early sun am pheasant and they "talked" to us individually for 1/2 hour. Two different guys and compared our stories. they said, "isn't it possible you shot that one last night too -- stuff like that." and "Why didn't you clean these two." Good cop bad cop stuff.

I know what they were getting at and what they were doing. They then asked to see my knife and it had feathers on it and dried blood.

We did not clean the birds right either and that was dumb on our part. We did not leave ID on the birds. Honestly, did not think of it.

They said we could have been fined $450 each for the teal (he shooting and me transporting) $200 per pheasant (didn't know if they were hens or roosters) and $500 for the "seventh" bird.

In the end we each got a $25 fine for not cleaning them right and $50 fine for not having the right duck stuff.

I was a little mad, but thought we got out of there better than we could have.

What experiences do you guys have? There were like 9 guys there with guns -- it was a little freaky.

I think those guys that were all drunk and over their limit that were next to us were in deep trouble. Maybe that's why they let us go easy?

It was like they were looking for a murder suspect. We were their for an hour.

What do you guys think?

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I'd say that a $75.00 fine is much better than a $2600 fine (assuming that my math is correct).

I would say pay the $75.00 no questions asked and look on the bright sided....you acutally saved $2525. grin.gif

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Eye --

VERY true. We do feel very fortunate. It could have been a lot worse.

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I had a buddy get stopped, probably at the same stop. Long story short is that he's a good guy who is law abiding. However, he made an honest mistake that could have cost him $890, but they dropped the fine to $100 since it was very obvious he didn't try to break any law intentionally. Was a bummer, but he is now considering it a $100 lesson learned and is pretty much just moving on with his life. I think this is a good approach to take on something like this. If it was an honest mistake, pay the fine, learn the lesson, don't forget about it, and move on. Judging by your last post, that's what you're going to do. Still a bit of a bummer on a fun sounding trip, but crap happens.

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Scoot --

Just wondering what your buddy got ticketed for.

An yes I did learn some good lesson and have no problem with what they did.

I would NOT have liked the BIG fines, but they were right and they could have done that to me.

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Hitman, where did you get stopped in ND? I have hunted up there for years and have never even seen the DNR. Sorry about your bad luck. Could of been worse.

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My buddy shot an antelope out West and was pheasant hunting his way home. He had deboned the goat and didn't save the head (and his tag on it). He had his carcass tag with, which he thought was legit. However, apparently you need to keep the animal's head until you reach your final destination and the carcass tag is only good to go from home to the butcher shop. He didn't know that (neither did I). Fortunately, he had a pic of him and his tagged goat on his digital camera- otherwise they said they'd have given him a $890 fine.

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I do believe that every time one goes hunting to another state one needs to check all their laws and also outstate transportation. many times every state is different.

I guess one has to feel lucky that the CO's were willing to lesson the fine for a lessoned learned the hard way.

Over the years of my outstate trips, I have heard of so many stories like this that I have really tried to study all the laws and talk to the game and Fish or whatever name their dept is before I hunted in that state and then transported game or fish back home.

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Yep, I think that's great advice. It seemed to me to be a real nitpicky detail that my buddy got pinched on, but the CO's were very polite and even thanked him and his partner for being so well behaved and respectful. Anyway... lesson learned by him. I think he'll take Tom's advice in the future and read the proc with a fine-toothed comb.

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Elbino --

I was stopped on 281? going north to Jamestown from the Jud area.

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Scoot --

Glad you told the story because i would have screwed that up too, I would guess. Home to 'lope hunt next season.

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HL --

You hit it right on the head. It was my first trip anywhere --

I guess I know what to do now -- Number one is read all regs, number two is don't trust Mabel at the Jud Post Office.

wink.gifgrin.gifgrin.gifcool.gif

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That will help you a bunch from running into a issue like this again. I never got pinched but know of some friends that did and they were not trying to break the law but just didnt take the time to read all outstate laws.

One cannot blame the CO's as they have a job to do and have heard it all I'm sure. If one is nice I believe one will also be treated that way almost all the time.

Kinda like the saying goes, Do unto other as you would have them do unto you.

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Hit I think as stated before you did get off really lucky, and even though you didn't know, you didn't have the proper licences and the birds seemed shady to them, so they had to give you some fine. The not preparing the birds right seems a little high but unfortunately with the amount of poachers out there they need to set these regs tight. They have a little booklet I know for ND waterfowl and probably for other birds as well that you can probably request from the fish and game, its very helpful due to the constantly changing laws in ND with their abundant bird resources. Other than that fed and state are often times required for birds. Doggonit Mabel if you don't know, don't tell them what you think they need, I think Mabel may be an insider trying to make more money for the game and fish. grin.gifwink.gif

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Quote:

$50 fine for not having the right duck stuff.


I'd say you got off really good.. just the ND Non resident duck stamp ( or duck license) is $85 at the cheapest, depending on what restrictions you want...

I understand what you're saying - it'd be nice if the people (mabel) who are supposed to know what they're talking about really know to prevent one from getting into binds like this...

marine_man

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Yeah --

I had the feeling that we were not exactly legal, but I figured the land owner and Mabel would know more about ND laws than I would.

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I really have a hard time believing that there are many people that can read the laws for hunting or fishing and remember exactly what is legal or not for the area that they are in. I try to read the book from cover to cover to stay legal, but the way it is today all you have to do is cross a certain road and you under a whole different set of rules, so we might as well get used to paying fines unless you have a photografic memory, OR stop and reread the law book several times a day. all in all it SUCKS!!!

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I'm a ND resident and share your concern about all the right tags, stamps, load, cleaning, drive-on, etc.

I was out on Saturday, found some unposted land that was connected to a reserve. I drove my 4-wheeler to the edge of the reserve where my Vizsla pointed 2 birds. Then when I was headed back to my 4-wheeler I noticed a truck parked in the area that hadn't been there before. I was sure it was a ND Game and Fish dude. I started my checklist in my head. (license, lead shot, plug in, 2 birds, walking only on reserve land, etc.) but I was still nervous to walk back. It turns out that the truck belonged to another hunter, but it seams like they can always find something wrong with all the regulations on the books. Unfortunately we have lots of a$$ets in the field that can be confiscated. I just try to keep it simple so I don't get caught by a mistake.

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Yeah I hear ya.

Another question we were having was if we could walk on private, but not posted land if we were from MN. That info was strange too. When knew we could not go on state land, but what about private WITHOUT specific permission.

I hate these goofy ND rules.

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Quote:

what about private WITHOUT specific permission.


Per the letter of the law yes, you can hunt un-posted private land in ND. That's one of the biggest differences between MN & ND.

I usually try and figure out who's land it is and ask as a courtesy, but per the letter of the law you could walk on private, un-posted land.

marine_man

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Marine --

Is that the same if it is an out-of-state hunter on opening weekend?

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Hey Cliffy --

Where have you been on this thread?

I was expecting some comments from our LE friends.

Hit

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Sorry, I have been busy this past week. My wife and I are moving into our new home...and I dont have the computer hooked up yet...just checking this site from work....which is a no no...so I cant spend much time on-line. Give me a couple of days to get the home computer back on-line and I will review the thread...and see if there is anything I can add. Gotta get back to work. Take care.

Cliffy.

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Thanks, Cliffy!

Yeah I suppose using the work computer to check fishing reports is a little frowned on. wink.gif

New house eh? Where abouts?

It is nice to have an insiders view of things.

Thanks again.

Hit

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Quote:

Yeah I suppose using the work computer to check fishing reports is a little frowned on.
wink.gif


It is??? Holy crap am I in trouble!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wink.gif

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Me too.

I might have to suspend myself at home with pay.

Fishing here I come.

grin.gifgrin.gifgrin.gifcool.gif

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